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A Funky Night at The Grove

August 29, 2026 / Jon Stone

A hand adorned with layered beaded bracelets — including letter bracelets reading "I <3 MEN" and "TULIP" among others — uses a green marker to write "You Are Enough" on a white paper plate, decorated with small vine and leaf doodles and a sketch of a rabbit's face at the bottom. A second hand steadies the plate from the top, resting on a wooden surface.

Seven white paper plates mounted on a warm pine wood wall, each hand-lettered with a phrase: "Just Play" at the top, "SPREAD LOVE ♡ NOT ♡ HATE" with small green doodles to the left, "F--- life come here recharge ♡♡" partially legible at the right, "Live Laugh Love ♡" surrounded by hand-drawn sunflowers in the center, "Who you are is SO COOL!!" at the lower left, "BE LOVE ... OR AT LEAST BE KIND ♥" at the lower right, and "♡ Stay positive ♡" at the bottom.

A black-and-tan dog with a pink collar curled up asleep in a round gray fleece dog bed, head resting on the plush bolster rim, positioned against a weathered wooden wall on a bed of small pebbles.

Rustic open-air wooden bar with a corrugated metal roof, set against a backdrop of dense trees with hazy light breaking through. In the foreground, a folding table holds black snapback hats, colorful merchandise, and a cardboard box; two people in matching yellow T-shirts stand chatting near the bar, while two others sit in camp chairs and at a picnic table to the right. A red pickup truck is parked just behind the structure, and a chainsaw-carved bear sculpture stands near the center.

A weathered wooden log spans horizontally across the frame, suspending two signs against a dense backdrop of dark green trees. Above, a hand-carved wooden sign reads "THE GROVE" with sculpted hands at each end and a carved pine tree motif; below it hangs a black-and-white banner reading "HIGH PINES presents THE FUNKTION."

A tan dome tent sits tucked at the edge of a grassy forest clearing to the left, its door open, framed by tall, bare-trunked trees in the foreground and a dense wall of green foliage behind.

Small outdoor forest stage with a wooden roof and a mirrored disco ball hanging from the center, bathed in blue-green light. A guitarist in a white jersey and a long-haired guitarist on the right flank a drum kit at the back, while a paint-splattered performer works on a colorful canvas at stage left. In the foreground, two audience members watch — one in a tie-dye shirt reading "FESTIVAL" with a wide-brim hat, the other carrying a backpack — with tall trees visible beyond the stage canopy.

Rotated shot of a rustic indoor stage where a paint-splattered artist in a black cap holds a brush over a colorful abstract canvas on an easel, while a person beside them holds a microphone; a drum kit glows blue-green in the background left, a disco ball hangs from the ceiling above, and stage monitors flank the front edge of the platform.

Vertical shot of a live performance bathed in deep blue stage lighting, with a large canvas on an easel in the foreground displaying a dense, colorful abstract painting of interlocking geometric shapes in red, green, yellow, and orange. A curly-haired artist crouches in front of it, bent low over their supplies, while a smiling drummer in a blue trucker hat plays a kit behind them. A silhouetted figure stands to the far right, and the backdrop features hand-drawn botanical illustrations with prismatic light projections washing across it.

Two guitarists performing on a small wood-paneled stage bathed in pink and purple light, a mirror ball hanging from the exposed-beam ceiling above them — the one on the left wearing a backwards cap and singing into a mic, the one on the right with long hair and glasses playing a sunburst semi-hollow body guitar.

Motion-blurred group of people gathered outdoors on a pine-needle-covered forest floor, with dark trees filling the background — two figures in all-black clothing with flashes of red move in the foreground left, while a man in a blue jacket stands sharply to the right, and a folding table with cups is visible mid-ground.

Darkened foreground silhouettes of audience members frame a fragmented, window-like view of a performer in a hoodie working equipment on a small stage, bathed in cool blue light against painted backdrop panels with illustrative designs, while deep magenta light bleeds in from the left where a second figure holds a guitar.

Person in a wide-brimmed black hat and star-shaped purple sunglasses, draped in a voluminous white fur coat over a green graphic top and shimmering silver vest, leaning toward a microphone stand under cool blue stage lighting, with a painted mural of trees and a landscape visible in the background.

A bearded guitarist in a psychedelic patterned shirt, captain's hat, and tinted aviator sunglasses plays a flame-maple electric guitar at center stage, grinning broadly. To his right, a woman in a metallic blue outfit laughs, while a third performer in white stands partially visible at the far left, all backed by a blue-lit botanical line-art mural. A mic stand and a "Sweetwater" branded amp are visible in the lower left foreground.

Two performers stand at microphone stands against a floral illustrated backdrop bathed in pink and blue stage lighting — on the left, a woman in a silver halter top and metallic jeans glances down at her phone, and on the right, a person in a wide-brimmed black hat, red glasses, a pink fur coat, and a glittery burgundy top leans slightly forward toward the mic.

A live band performance seen from just behind an audience member's head in the foreground, their curly dark hair centered in the frame. On stage, a woman in rust-red pants sings into a mic at left, a figure in a white fur coat and black hat stands center-back, a woman with long red braids and a sequined skirt performs at a mic stand, and two more musicians flank the right — one seated at a drum kit. The backdrop is a painted mural in blues and greens featuring trees and an owl, bathed in warm stage lighting.

Bearded guitarist in a bold red-and-cream psychedelic patterned jumpsuit, aviator sunglasses, and a white captain's hat with an anchor emblem, playing a warm-toned acoustic-electric guitar on a dimly lit stage bathed in red and blue light, with a painted forest backdrop and a second figure visible and blurred behind him to the right.

Two performers in matching glossy red jumpsuits lean into microphones under deep red stage lighting, one on the left with eyes closed mid-song, the other on the right with long wavy hair obscuring their face. A bearded drummer in a blue polka-dot shirt and dark sunglasses watches from the background, framed by a wall mural of delicate botanical line drawings.

Vertical shot of a live band performing under deep teal and blue stage lighting, with a woman singing at a mic stand on the left, a man in mirrored sunglasses and a red-dotted blue shirt playing percussion in the center, and a second performer at the right edge. Behind them, a wall decorated with hand-drawn botanical line art and projected geometric triangles gives the venue an intimate, art-forward feel.

Vertical shot of a drummer mid-performance, wearing a dark cap, sunglasses, and a red-and-blue patterned shirt, caught behind a drum kit bathed in cool blue and magenta stage lighting. A cymbal and drum hardware blur in the shallow foreground, while behind him a wall mural of botanical line drawings — wildflowers, ferns, and grasses — glows lavender under the stage wash.

Vertical shot of a bearded guitarist wearing a white captain's hat with an anchor emblem and tinted sunglasses, playing a warm-toned hollow-body electric guitar under dramatic amber stage lighting, his psychedelic red-and-green patterned suit popping against a cool blue backdrop printed with silhouetted wildflowers and botanical shapes.

A woman in a metallic copper-red outfit singing into a mic stand, head tilted back, one hand raised, bathed in warm red stage light against a cool blue-lit wall with botanical illustrations. A bandmate in a patterned shirt is partially visible to the left, and a phone in a case is strapped to her torso.

Two performers singing into microphones under deep blue stage lighting, both with hands raised and mouths open mid-song — the one on the left in a silver metallic top with a phone clipped to her outfit, the one on the right wearing a glowing red wristband and a GoPro-style camera at her hip. A botanical illustrated backdrop of silhouetted plants and trees fills the background.

A dark-haired woman singing into a microphone with eyes closed and red lips slightly parted, visibly emotional under warm stage lighting, wearing a shimmery purple-black top and a green beaded bracelet, with an iPhone mounted on the mic stand in front of her chest. Behind her, a pale blue projection of silhouetted Queen Anne's lace plants fills the backdrop.

Live music performance in a warmly lit venue with painted woodland murals — a tree with an owl carved into it visible on the right. In the foreground, a performer in a green patterned cap and tinted sunglasses plays a tambourine with motion-blurred arms, bathed in red and green light. Behind her to the left, a woman in a sequined skirt sings into a microphone, and further back, a second singer in a blue top performs at her own mic beside a set of congas.

Crowd gathered in front of a makeshift outdoor stage bathed in deep purple light, with a performer in a reflective outfit near a tree trunk mounted with a bright pink-white floodlight on the left. A hand-painted botanical backdrop hangs behind the stage, and a small disco ball dangles from a wooden beam overhead.

A dome tent covered in an intricate floral and swirling pattern glows from within against a near-total darkness, its fabric illuminated in blues, greens, and whites like a bioluminescent creature. A pair of Nike sandals and scattered gear sit in the foreground to the right on dark gravel, with shadowy tree trunks barely visible behind.

A campfire burning at night, with split logs and thick rounds of wood stacked loosely around a blazing white-yellow core, flames curling upward against a pitch-black background, embers glowing deep red along the charred wood edges.

Vertical shot of a man in a silver metallic jacket and white fedora playing a pale green electric bass guitar, eyes closed mid-performance, lit in cool blue and pink stage lighting. His gray t-shirt features a cartoon pig face, and a Mesa Engineering amp glows purple in the background behind him against raw wood-plank walls.

Vertically rotated shot of a band performing on a rustic wooden stage under teal-blue stage lighting, with a mirror disco ball hanging from the raftered ceiling above them — which reads as below due to the camera rotation. Several performers cluster around microphone stands at center, one with an arm raised, while a guitarist stands to the right and a figure in a patterned outfit occupies the far left. Stage monitors and equipment crowd the floor between them.

Torso and hands of a guitarist in a bold psychedelic-print shirt, playing a deep red electric guitar under saturated red stage lighting, cropped just below the chin and above the knees. Bokeh stage lights glow faintly in the deep red background to the left.

Long-haired guitarist wearing round glasses and a bandana, bathed in deep blue stage lighting, playing a dark electric guitar with a studded strap. A microphone stand rises to the left, and a painted mural of trees and sky fills the background.

A guitarist with voluminous curly black hair, a dark bandana, and blue-tinted sunglasses plays a black electric guitar, lit from the left in cool blue and warm red tones. Behind him, a blurred wall mural of sketched botanical forms fades into the shallow background.

Vertical shot of a bassist in a flat-brim cap, suspenders, and a floral short-sleeve shirt, playing a dark five-string bass guitar under blue-purple stage lighting, facing slightly right with eyes downcast. Behind him, a vivid painted backdrop depicts tall redwood trees and rolling green hills, glowing under the UV wash.

A long-haired drummer in large reflective sunglasses and a striped shirt sits behind a kit, bathed in cool blue stage light, gazing slightly upward with a relaxed expression. In the foreground left, a guitarist in a pink jacket plays a blue electric guitar, blurred in the shallow depth of field, while a black-line floral mural covers the wall behind the stage.

A performer in a red blazer, black top hat with lace trim, and oversized tinted aviator sunglasses sings into a microphone, a floral guitar strap crossing his chest. The background is a pale blue-washed curtain with shadowed tropical leaf prints, lit with cool stage lighting that gives the scene a moody, theatrical feel.

Two audience members — one in magenta, one in red — watch a three-piece band performing on a small, intimately lit stage, the foreground figures blurred in shallow depth. The guitarist on the left wears a pink blazer and top hat, a drummer sits center behind a full kit, and a bassist stands to the right, all bathed in deep blue stage light against a painted botanical backdrop.

Two guitarists perform on a small, vibrantly lit stage — one in a red jacket and black top hat leaning into his guitar on the left, the other with voluminous curly hair bathed in teal light at center — while a crowd of blurred heads fills the foreground, shot from behind the audience.

A guitarist in a hot pink blazer, black top hat, and red-tinted round glasses plays into a microphone beneath a mirror ball casting magenta light from above, with a illustrated botanical-print backdrop behind him and a second performer partially visible in the lower right corner.

High Pines put on an event at Sugar Mountain Performing Arts Center last weekend with Count Blastula, Pocketship, and themselves playing sets at The Grove.

It was a funky night that lasted nearly til sunrise. Sadly, my camera battery did not.

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